Insecticidal composition and the like



raaaaaloa. 26,1926.

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. 4 no Drawing;

In the control -of insects and parasites on fruit or vegetation by spraying, it is rec-' ognized that a thorough wetting of the fruit or leaf surface results in better rotection.

5 Until recently itwas considere that the best spraying practice consisted in depositing a multitude of small drops over the surface of the fruit or vegetation by means of a fine misty spray. 'The formation in such case of liquid drops on fruit and leaves is a natural tendency, due partly to the interfacial tension existing between the liquid and the surface of the fruit or leaf. However, aside from other considerations, the resultant spotted effect on fruit, particularly where arsenate of lead is used in the insecticidal composition, gives the fruita white appearance which-is objectionable to some trade,

' and in certain cases wiping the fruit has been'resorted to before it is packed for shipment. This is expensive It is also claimed that large deposits of lead arsenate revent proper coloring of the fruit and so ecrease its market "value. I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to improve the physical properties of the spray solution by increasing the wetting and covering power of such solution, materials added for this purpose being termed spreaders, (see Oregon Agricultural College Ex riment Station, Bulletin 169,- Insecticide investiga-.

tions, by Prof. A. L. Lovett). In the bulletin just referred to a number of Spreaders has been suggested, calcium caseinate' being recommended as one such substance which has an advantage in cheapness, availability, compatibility in most spra combinations, and ease of preparation. veral so-called casein 5 readers, which consist in effect of a mechamcal mixture of hydrated lime and powdered casein in the proportion of 75 cent of the former to 25 per cent of the ter, prepared in accordance with directions 'ven in the aforesaid bulletin and other similar publications, have furthermore been on the market for several years past under various trade names, the recommended quantity for use'with lead arsenate in all cases.

known to me being from 1% to 2 pounds of such spreader to 200 gallons of water, i. e.,

of the spray mixture. Various objecti ns of the foregoing spreaders. In the first place they are expensive, the cost being from GRAND IUNOTION 'COLORADO, ASBIGNOB TO THE GOODWIQ QEEHICAL COMPANY.

tif-

have to the unman- INSIO'IIOIIQAL GOIIPO'BI'LION AND THE LIKE.

Application fled Kay 6, 1824; Serial Io. 711,825.

thirty to forty cents per 200 gallontank at the current prlce, viz, twenty cents r pound. In the second place such sprea dl's are bulky to transport and store. Furthermore, the hydrated lime is subject to carbgmzatlon from the carbon dioxide of the air, .which tends torender. the spreader wholly or-partly valueless. Finally, large quantities of inert material are added to the spray mixture and act as an adulterant, de

creasing the efliciency of the spray.

The object of the present invention is :to provide a new and improved spreader that may be employed with much more satisfactory results and at a decreased cost to. the user. To the. accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then,

consists of the steps and ingredients herein-- after fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description settin forth but several (if the various ways in w ich my improved spreader may be prepared and used.

I have discovered that equal spreading efiiciency to that obtained by any of the above described spreaders is secured by adding a very small quantity of powdered casein to the spray material, with the subsequent addition to the spray mixture, i. e., to such material after it has been intermixed with the prescribed quantity of water, of a small amount of lime at the time of spraying. For example, with dry powdered insecticides of the type of, lead arsenate I find it is'satisfactory to add eight hundredths (8/100) burned lime havingibeen previously slakedwith water to a thin aste; then the insecticidal compound, inc uding the content of tank, and the mixture agitated and sprayed.

casein refe red to-abov'e, is added to the 5 The result,I have found in actual practice wit ap les, is a perfect wetting ;of the fr 't, and, on drying, the fruit is as umform- 1y coated without spotting as when from 1% to 2'pounds of the commercial casein spreader referred to above is used. i

The casein, being substantially insoluble, may be added at any point in the manufacture of the insecticide. Thus in the case of lead arsenate it may be put into the precipitating tank before or after the lead arsenate is formed, or it may be mixed with the paste from the filter press or it may be mixed with the dried product before or after grind mg. I s

' When mixed with insecticides which are alkaline, ofwhich calcium arsenate is an example, it is unnecessary to add any additional lime at the time of spraying. As already indicated, the casein is practically insoluble in Water and so remains inert in all pure water suspensions. I have accordingly found-it advantageous to add a soluble defiocculator to cause the insecticide to'rernain in suspension in neutral solution, for example, tannin or gum arabic.

The fruit grower using an arsenate of lead prepared according to the method I have de scribed will have a choice in his spraying methods. If, as may Well happen, he does not desire any special spreading effect during the early season, or, in other words, before the fruit begins to form, he may use the material as it is prepared, obtaining a finely divided product, easily suspendible in water. Later in theseason when the fruit is hard to wet he can obtain the desired covering power by merely adding a small amount of lime to his spray tank.

The amount of lime added, it will be understood, should be at least suificient to convert the otherwise inert casein into the soluble compound, calcium caseinate, While the term lime is used herein to connote either the oxide or the hydroxide the amount prescribed for use in myimproved insecticidal composition refersto the oxide. It will accordingly be understood that 'wherea lime is employed, in which the amount of such oxide or equivalent hydroxide is less than the total, due to partial carbonization,

1 due account must be taken of'the carbonate present since this has no efl'ect on the casein. While I have referred above to tannin and gum arabic as specific deflocculators it will be understod that these are merely examples of the several substances known to be useful whencombined with insecticidal compounds for dispersing the compound and increasing the persistence of suspensibility thereof in water, (see my ,prior U. S. Patent No. 1,322,008, dated November 18, 1919, also Patr entNo..1,393,47 i to Robert W. Wilson, dated October-.11, 1921). v e

It sh'ould be noted finally that the use of my" improved spreader and method of introducing same-into the spraymixture is not confined necessarily to spray mixtures dethe following claims or their equivalents be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a method of improving the spreadmg qualities of an insecticidal spray mixture, the steps which consist in adding to the insecticidal compound a very small quantity of casein; then intermixing such compound, when desired for use, with the prescribed quantity of water; and including in the resulting watery spray mixture an ingredient adapted to convert said casein into a soluble compound.

2. In a method of improving the spread ing qualities of an insecticidal spray mixture, the steps which consist in adding to the insecticidal compound a very small quantity of casein; then intermixing such compound, when desired for use, with the prescribed quantity of water; and including in the resulting watery spray mixture an amount of lime suflicient to convert said casein into calcium caseinate.

3. In a method of improving the spreading qualities of an insecticidal spray mixture, the insecticidal being an arsenical compound, the steps which consist in adding to the insecticidal compound a very small quantity of casein; then intermixing such compound, when desired for use, with the prescribed quantity of water; and including in the resulting watery spraymixture an ingredient adapted to convert said casein into a soluble compound. j 4. In a method of improving the spread- .ing. qualities of an insecticidal spraymixture, the insecticide being an arsenical compound, the steps which consist in adding to the insecticidal compound a very small quantity of casein; then intermixing such compound, when desired for use, with the prescribed quantity of Water; and including in 4 the resulting watery spray mixture an amount of lime suflicient to convert said casein into calcium caseinate. 5. In a method of improving the spreading qualities of an insecticidal spray' mixture, the insecticidebeing lead arsenate, the steps which consist in adding to the insecticidal compound aver-y small quantity of casein; then intermixing such compound,

when desired for use, with the prescribed quantity of water; and including in the resulting watery spray mixture an ingredient adapted to convert said casein into a soluble compound.

6. In a method of improving the spreading qualities of an insecticidal spray mixture, the insecticide being lead arsenate, thesteps which consist in adding to the insecticidal compound a very small quantity of casein; then intermixing such compound, when desired for use,- with the prescribed quantity of water; and including in the resulting watery spray mixture an amount of lime sufficient to convert said casein into calcium caseinate.

7. In a method of improving the spreading qualities of a lead arsenate spray mixture, the steps which consist in adding to the lead arsenate not to exceed four per cent of casein then intermixing said arsenate, when desire for use, with water at the rate of approximately four pounds to two hundred gallons of water; and including in the resulting watery spray mixture suflicient lime to convert said casein into calcium caseinate. 8. In a method of improving the spreading ualities of a lead arsenate spray mixture, t e steps which consist in adding to the lead arsenate approximately two per cent of casein then mtermixing said arsenate, when desired for use, with water at the rate of approximately four pounds to two hundred gallons of water; and including in the resulting watery spray mixture lime in an amount not to exceed eight ounces of calcium oxide per two hundred gallons of such mix- .ture.

stantially insoluble casein admixed therewith, and a small-quantity of an organic substance capable of serving as a protective colloid.

11. A composition of matter for insecticidal use comprisin a substantially insoluble arsenical, a relative y small quantity of substantially insoluble casein admixed therewith, and a small uantity of tannin.

Signed by me t is 5th day of Ma 1924.

HARRY B. GOOD N. 

